DTS has begun!

I'll be honest...the picture is irrelevant. I just think it is funny.

Well the July 2008 DTS (Discipleship Training School) is now in full swing! As most of you know, I changed roles at the base from "accounts" to "DTS Staff" at the beginning of July. Our school has 12 students, 4 staff, and 1 leader and we have people represented from Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, England, and Papua New Guinea. We have all been together for 3 weeks now and our really getting along well. God has already began to move in their lives as they begun to learn more about His character and nature as well as what it means to find their personal identity in Christ and not in the world. We have a very young school as all 12 students are between the ages of 18 and 20 but along with that comes a real hunger to know more of who God really is. It's so exciting to think what God is going to do in their personal lives as well as how He is going to work through them. I'll keep you all updated on what happens!

I had a great birthday on July 9th over here and I am now writing to you as a 25 year old. I haven't let my parents forget that they have now had me over a quarter of a century! The base made me a big cake and of course some of it ended up smashed all over my face...as welll as we all played rugby in the evening which made for an all in all great celebration. My parents sent me a box of goodies which was great and it also had quite a few bday cards from a few of you which was just great and a real encouragement. Thank you! I plan on my 25th year being the best year yet!

Youthstreet continues to go really well and so many of the kids are growing so much. Just last night one of the kids on my sports team came up to one of my staff and was so excited because he had just given his life to God! He had been going to a church youth group for awhile as well as Youthstreet and he finally made the decision to take the plunge! What an amazing thing. Awesome. The Youthstreet team that went to thailand (7 staff & 13 kids) have returned and have so many stories of how God used them. The highlight for most of them was all the girls were able to shut an entire bar down by "purchasing" four prostitutes and then taking them out to dinner and just showering them with love. So much happened that night that can't all fit in these words but needless to say it was incredible night of love and joy but also heartache and tears. A bit of God's heart was expressed that night and both the YS team as well as the prostitutes were exposed to a bit of how far God's love reaches. It's so good...yet absolutely heartwrenching.

The last things is that we have a whole new Reef to Outback website. I'd love to have you check it all out. You can find my personal profile on there as well as the July DTS profile as well that has a weekly blog about everything that we have experienced together. Check it out and have some fun!

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Changing roles

The transition has begun! I am transitioning out of my role in our accounting department and into July 08 Discipleship Training School Staff! As school staff we have spent last week as well as this coming week preparing for the school both physically, mentally, and spiritually. Along with getting the houses ready and all the curriculum sorted out etc. (physical), we have also spent a lot of time in the classroom being taught some of the finer points of discipling as well as diving a bit deeper into what we want to accomplish as DTS staff by setting realistic attainable goals (mental). Some of our “goals” are seeing our students grow in spiritual gifts, maturing in worship and prayer, integrating God into every aspect of their lives, as well as developing a heart for the lost...just to name a few. We have also been praying (spiritual) for our students travels, families, finances, and that God is already preparing their hearts for what he wants to accomplish over the next 5 months. Right now we have 16 students who are planning on coming but a couple still need to see finances come in and we have been partnering with them in prayer to see that happen so they can make it here! The school starts this coming Sunday and our first student arrived today…from New Jersey no less!

It has been an incredibly busy time as I have been preparing for the school, as well as moving into the DTS house, as well as continuing to work in accounts in the afternoons, as well as planning and leading the YouthStreet sports team…(we did archery this week by the way which was awesome!) But God is good and while things have been busy and sometimes close to overwhelming, I have a real excitement about everything that is going and can’t wait to dive all the way in. This is definitely a new experience for me and I feel that both personally as well as corporately we are being ushered into a new season and we are going to see big things happen! It’s going to be so good.

In other news, my back is doing very well and recovery seems to progressing well. I have no pain and it feels stronger and stronger as time goes by. My left calf still doesn’t work but I am going to physical therapy to hopefully regain what movement I have and train my brain to fire up what nerves are still working! I would love it if you could continue to keep a full recovery of my leg in your prayers.

We also have our first YouthStreet outreach team (made up of 13 YS teenagers + 7 staff) currently in Thailand for 2 ½ weeks…things have been going really well according to their reports and I will give you a full report when they return. It’s so cool to see these young guys and girl getting a taste of missions and getting out there and doing it! It’s so great.

Thanks again for all your continued thoughts and prayers. Keep the faith and I will be talking to you again soon. Send me an email and let me know what’s new in your lives too!

Love you guys and miss you.

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